Mozambique: Suspected jihadists attack village in Cabo Delgado June 5 /update 1

Event

Security officials reported that six men armed with machetes attacked Macomia district (Cabo Delgado province) on Tuesday, June 5. At least seven people were killed and four others wounded in the incident. The attackers also set fire to over 160 houses and destroyed four vehicles. According to media reports on June 5, security personnel from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have deployed into Cabo Delgado to assist local police in security the province.

Context

Several attacks have taken place in the area since October 2017. The violence appears to be driven by resentment among the local Muslim population toward the state. A group of dozens of young men, locally referred to as "Al-Shabaab," or "the youths," is suspected of being behind these attacks. The group has no confirmed ties to the infamous jihadist organization of the same name active in Somalia and, to a lesser extent, in Kenya.

Advice

Individuals present in Mozambique are advised to remain vigilant at all times (especially during public events, as well as in crowded places) and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.